Under current state law, counties are only required to give preference to Georgia service providers as is reasonable and practical.  Additionally, for purchases over $100,000, counties must consider the economic multiplier information supplied by the bidder of the impact that the Georgia produced goods provide.  This legislation requires counties to obtain to give preference to Georgia products and services, regardless of whether it is reasonable and practical. Counties must give preference to service providers that employee Georgia workers. All invitations to bid must include a notice that the county will consider the impact of the bid on employment in the state.  In order to be considered by the county, all bids must contain an employment impact statement that includes the number of jobs expected to be created in Georgia if the bidder receives the contract, the number of jobs expected to be retained in Georgia that might otherwise be lost if the bid is awarded to a different bidder, the number of subcontractor jobs expected if the bidder is awarded the contract, the number of subcontractor jobs expected to retained that might otherwise be lost if another bidder is awarded the contract, and a guarantee that the jobs created or retained in Georgia will not be moved out of state during the contract.  The county must require any information needed to substantiate claims by a bidder that jobs will created or retained.

Among many other revisions that are not related to county governance, HB 283 eliminates the antiquated requirement that the board of commissioners provide office space in the courthouse to the school superintendent.  ACCG supports this section of the bill.   

This legislation requires counties that provide public recreation facilities that organize youth athletic activities for which a participation fee is charged to provide an information sheet to all coaches, officials, youth athletes and their parents and guardians informing them of the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries. The parents and guardians must sign an acknowledgment that they received the fact sheet. This bill purports to provide no liability to counties with public recreation facilities that comply with the requirements of this proposed law.